By Hsu Yung-ching and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) today blocked a motion proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus to condemn Beijing’s new “ethnicity unity” law.
All 60 lawmakers from the KMT and TPP voted against placing the proposal on the legislative agenda, while 48 DPP lawmakers voted in favor.
China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress aims to “forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.”
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
The law, which took effect on Wednesday, uses legislation as a tool of intimidation and seeks to create a chilling effect in the international community while threatening the personal safety of Taiwanese, the DPP caucus said, proposing a motion to condemn Beijing’s transnational repression efforts.
The law could threaten people around the world, particularly those in Taiwan who maintain that the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name) is an independent sovereign state, DPP caucus chief executive Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said.
Beijing’s implementation of the law represents an attempt to use domestic legislation to infringe on the sovereignty and human rights of other countries, extend authoritarian political control beyond its borders and expand transnational repression, the motion said.
The law has drawn strong criticism and concern from the UN, the European Parliament, multiple governments and international human rights organizations, it said.
The law’s provisions are vaguely defined and subject to arbitrary enforcement, seriously contravening international norms, including principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the motion said.
Under the law, people who insist that “the Republic of China is a country,” acknowledge the de facto existence of the Republic of China, advocate “equality and dignity” in relations with China or oppose Beijing’s authoritarian rule could face persecution, it said.
The motion called on lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, to issue their strongest condemnation of the law and jointly safeguard the security of Taiwanese.
The government should take countermeasures, as the law significantly increases risks for Taiwanese traveling, conducting business or engaging in academic exchanges overseas, the motion said.
Suggested measures include revising relevant laws, imposing penalties on those who assist in unlawful enforcement activities and improving risk-warning mechanisms for travel to China and other destinations, it said.
The law grants Chinese authorities broad powers of interpretation and enforcement, amounting to a form of global long-arm jurisdiction that transcends nationality and geography, it said.
The motion called on like-minded countries to deepen cooperation, jointly resist authoritarian expansion, prevent infringements on national sovereignty and uphold universal human rights values.